Medionops tabay, Sánchez-Ruiz, Alexander & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2017

Sánchez-Ruiz, Alexander & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2017, A new genus with seven species of the Subfamily Nopinae (Araneae, Caponiidae) from the Neotropical region, Zootaxa 4291 (1), pp. 117-143 : 140-141

Medionops tabay new species

Figures 19 G–L, 20

Type. Male holotype from Tabay Mucuy (8°34'N 71°3'W), Sendero a la Laguna El Suero, Mérida, Venezuela, 2700 m asl, 19.vi–24.vii.1989, S. Peck & J. Peck, deposited in AMNH.

Additional material examined. VENEZUELA: Mérida: La Montaña , cable car station (8°10'N 71°35'W), 2442 m asl., 28–25.ii.1968, P & B. Wygodzinsky, M. Cormons, 1♂ left palp for SEM ( AMNH) . ULA Biological Reserve La Carbonera (8°38'N 71°22'W), 20 km. SE of Azulita , 2300 m asl., 28.vi–3.viii.1989, S. Peck & J. Peck, 1♂ ( AMNH) .

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition, derived from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Males resemble those of M. ramirezi n. sp. in having the dorsal abdomen with unremarkable pattern of very fine lines, almost unnoticeable, forming four or five chevrons along a longitudinal line, but in M. tabay n. sp. this longitudinal line reaches the pedicel ( Fig. 20 A). Can be further distinguished by their longer embolus (over three times the greatest diameter of the bulb) ( Figs 19 G, 20D–E).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 4.9. Carapace 2.3 long, 2.0 wide. Sternum 1.9 long, 1.7 wide. Leg measurements: I: 2.4; II: 2.4; III: 2.2; IV: 2.6. Carapace dark orange. Chelicerae, palps and legs orange; coxae and trochanters orange. Endites light orange, labium and sternum orange. Abdomen dark gray with unremarkable pattern of very fine lines, almost unnoticeable forming four or five chevron along a long longitudinal line, that reaching the pedicel ( Fig. 20 A). Anal tubercle and spinnerets lighter than abdomen. Crista short, gladius with the common shape among nopine. Palp with a spherical oval bulb, embolus longer than cymbium ( Figs 19 G, 20D–E), tip of embolus slightly curved, stout, with truncate opening and a pointed projection ( Figs 19 J–K).

Female: Unknown

Distribution. Known only from Mérida province in Venezuela ( Fig. 21 ).

Figures

FIGURE 19. A – F Medionops simla (Chickering) new comb, left palp of male from Arima (AMNH). G – L Medionops tabay n. sp., left palp of male from La Montaña, Mérida (AMNH). A prolateral view. B tibial brush, prolateral view. C stridulatory pick at base of palpal femur, prolateral view. D tip of embolus, prolateral view. E tip of embolus, dorsal oblique view. F tip of embolus, dorsal view. G prolateral view. H ventral view. I detail of chemosensory setae path from cymbium, prolateral view. J tip of embolus, prolateral view. K tip of embolus, ventral view. L tibial brush, prolateral view.

FIGURE 20. Medionops tabay n. sp., male holotype. A habitus, dorsal view. B habitus, ventral view. C endites and labium, arrows point the acute projections on endites, ventral view. D left palp of male holotype, prolateral view. E left palp of male holotype, retrolateral view.

FIGURE 21. Map of South America showing distribution of Medionops species. Triangle, Medionops blades n. sp.; plus sign, Medionops cesari (Dupérré) n. comb.; square, Medionops claudiae n. sp.; tears, Medionops murici n. sp.; diamond, Medionops ramirezi n. sp.; circles, Medionops simla (Chickering) n. comb.; heart, Medionops tabay n. sp.